Blodgett, Terrell

Dorothy Jean Chapin Blodgett was a journalist, freelance writer and public relations consultant in Austin, Texas. She was born to Hugh and Sadie Chapin on October 20, 1924. After graduating from Waco High School she attended Baylor University and graduated in 1945 with a BA in History. While attending Baylor she also began her professional journalism career at the Waco News Tribune. In 1946 she married Terrell Blodgett.

Although Dorothy took time off from full-time work to raise three children she established a career as a respected freelance writer and promotional professional beginning in the 1950s. She worked with J. J. "Jake" Pickle (then in public relations) and George Christian on Price Daniel's 1956 gubernatorial campaign. This began a long time association, both professional and personal, with Pickle. She went on to work for three Texas governors: John Connally, Mark White and Bill Clements. For Governor Connally she coordinated the first Texas Governor's Conference on Libraries in 1966. For Governor Clements she served as a consultant for the renovation/restoration of the Governor's Mansion in 1979. Her knowledge of the Mansion was again utilized when Governor White asked her to serve as a consultant on Governor's Mansion operational procedures and the training of the first Docent group in 1983. Her longtime interest in the Governor's Mansion led her, along with Governor and Mrs. Price Daniel, to write The Texas Governor's Mansion: A History of the House and Its Occupants .

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